Injured dog, perhaps used as bait, found in Goliad ditch

Dawn Blackmon, co-founder of Goliad Pet Adoption, said the male pit bull likely has emotional injuries in addition to the ones he sustained physically.

Dawn Blackmon, 55, of Goliad, got a call Saturday afternoon from the sheriff's office about an injured dog in a ditch about 5 miles northwest of Goliad.

The person who notified the Goliad County Sheriff's Office said the dog had a couple of scratches on him, said Blackmon, co-founder of Goliad Pet Adoption. The Goliad County Sheriff's Office did not return calls Sunday.

Blackmon said she and a volunteer with Goliad Pet Adoption found the pit bull with severe wounds on his head, eye and neck.

"We saw the horrible open wounds. I thought just from the way the blood was dried on his face his mouth had been taped," Blackmon said.

The dog's injuries were consistent with that of a bait dog, a dog used to train other dogs to mutilate, she said.

Blackmon said they first checked to see whether the dog had a microchip before taking him Saturday to a veterinarian in Beeville.

While the dog was being treated, Blackmon shared pictures of the dog along with details of his injuries on Facebook. On Sunday night, the Facebook post had more than 4,000 shares.

"I knew we had to try to get him into a rescue," Blackmon said. "That's when I went and posted on Facebook. I tagged people who have dealings with bully rescues. Thank goodness for them."

Blackmon received phone calls and emails from across the country with offers for medical and emotional help for the dog.

"Most of these bait dogs are stolen family dogs or free off Craigslist or out of the paper," Blackmon said. "It's sad. But this guy was lucky. He will never have to go back to that again."

If the dog was used as a bait dog, Blackmon said, he likely has emotional wounds, as well as those he suffered physically.

"More than anything, this has to stop. People know who is doing it. They are not reporting it," Blackmon said. "Until it is reported, it's going to continue."